Name: Buffalo Wings
Total time: 35 min
Ingredients: Blue Cheese Dressing; 1/3 cup sour cream; 1/4 cup mayonnaise; 2 tablespoons whole buttermilk; 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice (from 1 lemon); 4 ounces blue cheese, crumbled (about 1 cup); 1 teaspoon finely chopped chives; 1/8 teaspoon kosher salt; Buffalo Wings; Vegetable oil; 10 small (1 pound total) chicken drumettes, patted dry; 10 small (13 ounces total) chicken wing flats (wingettes), patted dry; 1/2 cup buffalo-style hot sauce (such as Frank’s RedHot); 3 tablespoons unsalted butter; Additional ingredients; Celery sticks

Buffalo Wings — Photo:
Matt Taylor-Gross / Food Styling by Amelia Rampe

Active Time:

20 mins

Total Time:

35 mins

Servings:

There’s no substitute for a classic Buffalo wing when it comes to snacking while watching a game or relaxing on a weekend afternoon. These wings are fried, then tossed in a buttery hot sauce and served with blue cheese dipping sauce and celery. The tangy blue cheese dressing is the perfect counterpart to the wings. If you like extra-crispy wings, fry them for an extra minute or two. And if you have an air fryer, cook the wings skin-side up to keep the skin as crispy as possible.

Frequently asked questions

What are Buffalo wings?

Buffalo wings are chicken wings tips and flaps that are fried then tossed in hot sauce (traditionally, Frank’s RedHot sauce) and served with blue cheese dressing and celery sticks. They get their name from the town where they originated: Buffalo, New York. Buffalo residents and wing diehards maintain there is only one true way to prepare them – here’s that recipe.

How long do you cook Buffalo wings in the air fryer?

These wings are easily cooked in the air fryer. Prepare the blue cheese dressing as directed while you preheat the air fryer to 375°F for 10 minutes. Add half of the chicken pieces, skin side up, to the fry basket; cook until crispy golden brown and a thermometer inserted into thickest portion of chicken registers at least 165°F, 12 to 15 minutes. Transfer the chicken to a baking sheet in a single layer; place in preheated oven, and keep warm. Repeat procedure with remaining chicken, then toss the chicken wings in the Buffalo-style hot sauce and serve them with the blue cheese dressing and celery.

Notes from the Food & Wine Test Kitchen

We love these classic Buffalo wings as a snack on game day or anytime we need something meaty, rich, and savory. Classic Buffalo wings call for Frank's RedHot sauce and butter to make the sauce. They are a great snack for the Super Bowl or any time you want to kick up your weeknight repertoire.

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Ingredients

Blue Cheese Dressing

1/3 cup sour cream
1/4 cup mayonnaise
2 tablespoons whole buttermilk
2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice (from 1 lemon)
4 ounces blue cheese, crumbled (about 1 cup)
1 teaspoon finely chopped chives
1/8 teaspoon kosher salt

Buffalo Wings

Vegetable oil
10 small (1 pound total) chicken drumettes, patted dry
10 small (13 ounces total) chicken wing flats (wingettes), patted dry
1/2 cup Buffalo-style hot sauce (such as Frank’s RedHot)
3 tablespoons unsalted butter

Additional ingredients

Celery sticks

Directions

Prepare the Blue Cheese Dressing:

Stir together sour cream, mayonnaise, buttermilk, and lemon juice in a medium bowl; fold in blue cheese, chives and salt. Cover and chill until ready to serve.

Prepare the Buffalo Wings:

See note above to prepare these wings in an air fryer. To fry them on the stove, place a wire rack over a rimmed baking sheet. Pour vegetable oil in a large Dutch oven to a depth of 2 inches; heat oil to 375°F over medium. Fry chicken drumettes and wing flats in 2 batches until golden brown and until a thermometer inserted into thickest portion of chicken registers at least 165°F, 6 to 8 minutes. Transfer to wire rack.
While chicken cooks, bring hot sauce and butter to a simmer in a small saucepan over medium, whisking occasionally. Simmer, whisking occasionally, until sauce is slightly thickened and coats the back of a spoon, about 1 minute. Cover and set aside.
Place Buffalo Wings and sauce in a large bowl; toss until wings are evenly coated. Transfer to a platter, and serve with Blue Cheese Dressing and celery sticks.